Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-08-24
WILDER IDENTIFIED.
Details of His Return to Cheyenne
as a Prisoner-Recognized as
Harry Patterson.

49," ~
Harry Patterson.
CHEYENNE, August 10.-The return OF
Harry Paterson created considerable ex-
element here andthe press has contained
full particulars of his r%e-capture and the
circumstance of his crime. From these
the following report is compiled:
II CRIME.
The indictment: against Patterson con-
sists of six counts, each separately alleg-
ing that he Ibid wilfully, malieiously and
premeditatedly shoot and kill q mar to
the jury unknown That this man was
McLehene, alias Tin Hat" thare can be
no doubt. A friendship had sprung up
between the two at Lusk, then called
Running Water. McLehone was a ganb-
Ter and was known to have about $l50 In
money. Patterson was a cowboy and his
earthly possessions consisted OF a horse
and some b%ed-clothing. Business becom-
ing quiet at Running Water, Tin Hat"
proposed that they emigrate to Buffalo,
johnson e%ounty-that they strike across
the country and ride the pony alternately.
This was readily agreed to by Patterson,
who was unable to secure employment in
Laramie county on account OF his severe
treatment of the horses allotted to him.
On the second day after leaving Running
Water they entered the secluded precincts
of Muskrat canyon, and it was here that
Patterson murdered his unfortunate com
panion and gained possession of the $3.50,
after which he concealed "Tin Hats"
clothing and buried his victim in the bed
of a dry creek loading the remains down
with stones. Charles Trumble, who was
then employed as Waterman by the Great
Wyoming Mining Company at Running
Water, observed Patterson and Nc
Lehone leave the place, the former riding
while "Tin Hat" walked by his side.
When he saw Peterson return alone and
with considerable money, he suspected
that the cowboy had robbed and perhaps
murdered his companion, and it = vas upon
information furnished Ey Tumble that
Patterson was arrested by Thomas Car
roll.
HIS ARREST. ~M
Patterson was detected by Charles V.
Trumble who is nov under sentence of
death for the murder of Charles Miley at
Lusk last winter, and arrested while visit
ing a roundup near Hat creek by Thomas
Carroll, of Fort Laramie, who acted in the
capacity of deputy in that section during
the administration of Sheriff Craig. Car
roll started for Cheyenne with Patterson,
who through gross carelessness was allow
ed to escape while the officer was eating
supper at R. Throp's ranch at Rawhide
Buttes. They sat at the same table and
when Patterson finished his meal he walk
ed outside, mounted a horse and left.
Carol appeared o after and inquired
for the criminal. Mr.. Thorp said: "He
lust went down the road on horseback,
who was he?" 81 am sorry he's gone,"
said Carroll, "he'sa murderer and was
taking him to Cheyenne" 1t is said that
Patterson fastened to the o w ranch, was
given a fresh horse and directed the best
road out of the country. Be that as it
NAV, Mr.. Patterson was not again seen in
this country until his return from Great
Falls, Montana. =
IDENTIFYING THE PRISONER.
Patterson was we'll known in Cheyenne.
He frequently visited the city, and was at
one time employed as a hack driver by a
leading livery man. The man was we'll
known to many saloon keepers and 9th
ers and there was no trouble about iden-
tifying him. West Meyer visited him on
the day that he was brought back here and
selecting him from the thirty-eighs other
prisoners confined in the county jail, adj
vanced toward him and reaching out his
hand, said, "How are you, Harry" Pat
terson maintained his undisturbed appear
ance, gazed at Mr.. Meyer a moment, and
replied: "You are mistaken in the man.
l don't know YOU Meyer employed the
man about his place for a time, and is
positive that the prisoner is Patterson
George D. jerks, the stockman, has known
Patterson for years and identified him or
sight. The prisoner persists in saying
that his name is James Wilbur; that h
was born in Atchison, Kansas, emigratet
TO Colorado and left that state for Oregon
in 1884, landing in Great Falls last year.
The Cheyenne Leader says: "Ihe Lar
annie county deputy states that he is unde1
great obligations to Sheriff Black ant
Hathaway of Montana. The former is s
nephew of Messrs. Alexander H. ant
Thomas Swan of this city, and both ar
pronounced brave and efficient officer
and thorough western men. At the time
of his apprehension Patterson was EN-
ployed as a laherer on a building IN Grea
Falls. He had married since leaving
Wyoming, hut was poorer than ever"